NXT
Date: July 1, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re officially in the second half of the year and less than two weeks away from the Great American Bash. The card is starting to come together and we are going to be seeing some more added this week. In addition, TNA’s Joe Hendry is here to face Wes Lee, which should be a fun one. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Joe Hendry vs. Wes Lee

Trick Williams is on commentary and the rest of High Ryze is here with Lee. Hendry takes him down by the arm to start as Williams says his challengers (Hendry and Mike Santana) need to be the ones getting ready for Slammiversary. Lee rolls around and kicks him in the ribs before sending Hendry outside. That’s fine with Hendry, who blasts him with a clothesline.

We take a break and come back with Hendry glaring at the High Ryze, allowing Lee to hit a suicide dive. A middle rope phoenix splash gives Lee two but Hendry suplexes his way out of trouble. The comeback is on quickly but Lee slips out of the Standing Ovation. A fireman’s carry slam gives Hendry two so High Ryze gets up. Cue Santana to cut them off though and the Standing Ovation finishes for Hendry at 9:29.

Rating: B-. Well Hendry wasn’t going to lose here so this was about giving him a victory on the way to his big rematch with Trick Williams at Slammiversary. The good thing is that Lee is someone who can make just about anyone look good. Hendry’s charisma and star power are more than enough to carry him but he can back it up in the ring well enough, which was on display here.

Santana and Hendry stand tall as Williams doesn’t look happy.

We look at Tatum Paxley seemingly joining the Culling, with Zaria and Sol Ruca letting her go.

Here is Luca Crusifino for a chat. He wants to talk to Tony D’Angelo, who comes out to say the tables have turned. They argue over who has done what to whom in the last few weeks but Crusifino doesn’t want to hear it. Crusifino talks about the things he has sacrificed for D’Angelo and the Family and that is loyalty. Cue Stacks to interrupt but Crusifino doesn’t want to hear it. Crusifino decks D’Angelo…and then does the same to Stacks, saying his loyalty belongs to himself. There’s your big moment, with another betrayal/surprise likely coming sooner than later.

Oba Femi wants to see if Yoshiki Inamura has the fire to come after him. Inamura, with Josh Briggs, comes in to say he’s ready, but Femi says he is the hunter rather than the hunted.

Lexis King vs. Myles Borne

They fight over wrist control to start and King steps on his back a bit for some mind games. Borne takes him down and does the Florida Gator chomp, only for King to nail a dropkick on top. A top rope superplex brings Borne down for two and a running corner dropkick gives King two. The seated abdominal stretch goes on for a bit before King hits a running slap in the corner. That’s enough for Borne to fight up, including an Angle Slam for a breather. Borne’s big dropkick sets up a Zig Zag for the pin at 4:40. Well at least it’s a finisher.

Rating: C+. Good enough match here as the idea is to turn Borne into something more important. He had his big moment against Oba Femi and now the goal is to do something to keep him at a higher level. A clean win like this is a good way to start and I could go for seeing more of him. It’s nice to see NXT trying with someone who got a nice reaction and they’re doing it again here, which has potential.

Darkstate says everything that happens around here is because they allow it. They know what they’re going to do next, but we don’t.

Thea Hail vs. Lainey Reid

Hail isn’t happy and takes her down to start for some forearms to the face. Reid drops her face first into the corner and chokes away, followed by a spinning clothesline. A double underhook shoulderbreaker gives Reid two but Hail is back with a Codebreaker to the arm. The Kimura is blocked and Reid grabs a rollup but gets caught caught with her feet on the ropes. Hail’s rollup gets two so Reid kicks her away, setting up a running knee for the pin (while grabbing the rope and with Hail’s hand under the rope) at 4:22.

Rating: C+. And that’s another loss for Hail, who doesn’t really seem to win much of note…ever really. They’ve tried a few things with her but ever since that whole ordeal of Andre Chase throwing in the towel, Hail hasn’t felt like anything important. Reid isn’t that much further ahead, but she seems to be going in a rather different direction than Hail at the moment.

Tavion Heights isn’t happy with still being in the No Quarter Catch Crew. Charlie Dempsey agrees to give him one more “win and you’re out” match but this is his last chance.

Jasper Troy says you should fear him and Oba Femi knows what is coming for him if Troy wins tonight.

Sol Ruca/Zaria vs. Tatum Paxley/Izzi Dame

The rest of the Culling is here with Paxley and Dame. Ruca tries to talk some sends into Paxley to start but Zaria and Dame come in to argue as well. Ruca and Zaria clear the ring without much trouble and it’s Ruca grabbing a waistlock on Paxley. Some arm cranking has Paxley in more trouble and it’s off to Zaria to yell at Dame. They trade forearms until Paxley breaks it up with a high crossbody for two. Back up and Ruca and Zaria clear the ring again and we take a break.

We come back with Paxley tying Zaria up in the ropes for a running dropkick from Dame. A chokeslam drops Zaria again and a running flipping ax kick gives Paxley two more. The chinlock doesn’t last long so Paxley knocks her down again and puts it on for a second go. Zaria powers out without much trouble and it’s Ruca coming in to clean house.

A quick tag brings Zaria back in to clean house and an assisted splash from Ruca gives Zaria two. Dame hits a Codebreaker but there’s no Paxley, only for her to run back in and shove Dame out of the way. That means Zaria spears Ruca by mistake and Zaria is sent outside. A Sky High finishes Ruca at 13:17.

Rating: B-. Zaria and Ruca’s issues continue and it would not stun me to see them split for good in the near future. At the same time, Paxley seems to be finding a place with the Culling, though they don’t feel like the most trustworthy team in the world. There is a good chance that Dame gets a shot at Ruca out of this, and things might change even more once we get to that one.

Ethan Page, with the Vanity Project, and Ricky Saints are in Ava’s office. Page agrees to let Saints get a title shot if he can run the Vanity Project gauntlet (which happened recently on Evolve). Saints is in, but if he wins, he gets to pick the stipulation for the title shot. Deal.

We go to Chase U where Andre Chase actually apologizes. As a result, he has gotten Kale Dixon a match for next week and they hug. Chase does his swearing pep talk, but he does it WITH Dixon rather than at him.

Joe Hendry thanks Mike Santana, who says they’re uniting to fight for TNA. They’re not friends, but they’re fighting together against High Ryze next week. Works for them.

Josh Briggs gives Yoshiki Inamura a pep talk before his #1 contenders match, though Inamura says he has this.

Tatum Paxley is happy with their win and here is Ava to say Izzi Dame gets a Women’s North American Title shot at the Great American Bash. Hank & Tank come in to accuse the Culling of attacking them last week and Paxley talks them into giving the Culling a Tag Team Title shot next week.

Jasper Troy vs. Yoshiki Inamura

For an NXT Title shot at the Great American Bash. Inamura strikes away to start but Try gives him a hard whip into the corner. The chinlock is already on but Inamura powers out and shrugs off some clotheslines. A headlock grinds away at Troy and Inamura hits him with a sumo charges but Troy is right back with a side slam. Back up and Inamura knocks him to the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Troy hitting three straight splashes for two and a World’s Strongest Slam gets the same. The abdominal stretch goes on but Inamura is quickly out for a ran into the post. Inamura unloads with shots to the head but walks into a swinging Boss Man Slam (appropriate as commentary compared Troy to Abyss earlier). Inamura muscles him up for a slam and the top rope splash connects for the pin at 11:38.

Rating: B-. I’m a bit surprised by the result but maybe they’re going with the idea of “Inamura isn’t here long, get what we can out of him”. He’s gotten a bit more interesting lately, though maybe that’s due to having him actually get in the ring rather than just talking about it most of the time. Troy is still a good monster, but that aura goes away quickly if he keeps losing.

Post match Oba Femi comes in to stare at Inamura as Je’Von Evans comes in to drop Troy.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Here is Jordynne Grace for a chat. Getting here is the hardest thing she has ever done but last week reminded her that she thrives on pressure. Evolution is a major event for women’s wrestling and she will be making history. She’s terrified of being vulnerable though and she has been asking herself if she belongs here. She did everything to get here and became someone you can’t ignore.

Cue Fatal Influence to interrupt, with Jacy Jayne asking if Grace is done yet. Grace can bench press more than Jayne but she can’t carry as much as Jayne. Grace tells her to shut up and says it won’t be a surprise when there is a new champion at Evolution. The beatdown is on but Blake Monroe runs in for the save. Ava comes out to make the tag match for the Great American Bash. Jayne and Fallon Henley run back in and get knocked back down just as fast.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was much more about getting ready for the future with the Great American Bash, which is something that has been needed. At the same time, we’re building towards a big match at Slammiversary and likely some things at Evolution. That’s a tricky path to walk and they did it well enough here. NXT has found quite the balancing act of not having boring television while still setting things up for later. Other shows can’t make that work so well done for figuring out a nice formula.

Results
Joe Hendry b. Wes Lee – Standing Ovation
Myles Borne b. Lexis King – Zig Zag
Lainey Reid b. Thea Hail – Running knee while holding the rope
Tatum Paxley/Izzi Dame b. Sol Ruca/Zaria – Sky High to Ruca
Yoshiki Inamura b. Jasper Troy – Top rope splash

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: June 24, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

While the Great American Bash is coming up in a few weeks, tonight is about Evolution, as we have a four way match to crown a new #1 contender for the pay per view. Other than that, we should be finding out who is next in ling for Oba Femi and the NXT Title, which could go in a few different ways. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, Jaida Parker and Jordynne Grace all say they’re going to win tonight and go on to Evolution. Three out of four people lying is not a great ratio.

TNA World Title: Trick Williams vs. Josh Briggs

Briggs, with Yoshiki Inamura, is challenging and sends Williams into the corner a few times to start. Williams’ whip is blocked and Briggs hits a running clothesline for two. A hot shot onto the buckle cuts Briggs off and Williams takes him down with a headlock. Back up and they trade some running shots to the face until Williams is knocked outside. Briggs gets in a big boot and we take a break.

We come back with Briggs countering a side kick into a suplex and hitting a splash. Williams gets in a middle rope knee for two and flips out of a chokeslam. A powerbomb doesn’t work for Briggs, who is right back with a chokeslam for two. Briggs misses the moonsault though and the Trick Shot retains the title at 11:30.

Rating: C+. This was a case of giving the champion a fairly safe title defense where he had to work for it anyway. Briggs didn’t even get a pin to earn the title shot so he was playing with the house’s money in the first place. It’s a fine way to open the show, though I could still go for seeing more of Briggs actually winning something.

Post match Williams says he wants respect but here is Joe Hendry from behind to clear the ring as we’re told that Hendry gets the title shot at Slammiversary.

Tavion Heights (in a Ribera Steak House jacket) is ready to win tonight and escape the No Quarter Catch Crew. Charlie Dempsey doesn’t seem thrilled.

Myles Borne is talking to some football players when Lexis King interrupts. King mocks all of them and leaves.

Je’Von Evans vs. Tavion Heights

If Heights wins, he’s out of the No Quarter Catch Crew. Heights easily wrestles him down to start and gets two off an early cradle. The armbar goes on to keep Evans down but he’s back up with a springboard headscissors. Heights is sent to the floor for a big dive and we take a break. We come back with Evans getting the better of a slugout until Heights hits a Pounce for two. A German suplex gives Heights two but he charges into a superkick in the corner. The spinning top rope splash gives Evans the pin at 8:52.

Rating: C+. The result surprised me a bit, as while I wasn’t certain that Evans was going to win, I was surprised that he did it completely clean. Heights and Myles Borne both leaving the No Quarter Catch Crew in the span of a few weeks would have been a lot, but I was expecting Charlie Dempsey to get involved if nothing else. I’m sure Heights will keep trying to get out, but that was a pretty painful loss.

Post match Jasper Troy comes in to drop Evans.

We recap Tony D’Angelo vs. Stacks for the Heritage Cup. Stacks was set for the title match but Noam Dar was injured. As a result, D’Angelo was given the spot for the vacant title instead. The question is about Luca Crusifino, who is working for one of them but it isn’t clear whom.

Ricky Saints vs. Ashante Thee Adonis

They slug it out to start with Adonis fighting out of the corner. A crisscross lets Saints kick him in the face and throw Adonis outside as we take a break. We come back with Saints fighting out of the corner but getting caught with an AA for two. Saints fights back and grabs suplex like a backdrop into a tornado DDT for two of his own. Roshambo gives Saints the pin at 7:58.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here with almost half of the match taking place in the break. Saints gets a win to help reestablish himself a bit, though Ethan Page is what really matters for him. This was a fine way to get Saints back on track though and that’s what Adonis should be used for most of the time.

Post match Ethan Page pops up on screen for a distraction but here is Page to jump Saints from behind. Page hits his own Roshambo.

Darkstate says they’ll be front and center with chaos and destruction.

Here is Oba Femi for a chat. He has been NXT Champion since January and since then, a variety of stars have come for his title but wound up as footnotes. Femi loves the fight and wants someone to come step up to him. Cue Yoshiki Inamura to say he’s here to chase gold. He missed Josh Briggs but he also missed NXT, with its culture and the passion of the fans. Femi admires his moxie but says it won’t go well for Inamura. That’s fine with Inamura, who is ready, only for Jasper Troy to take him out. I’d rather have Troy over Inamura, but at least we should be getting a #1 contenders match out of this whole thing.

Izzi Dame gives Tatum Paxley a doll but Zaria and Sol Ruca come in. Paxley walks off with the doll and meets up with Dame and the rest of the Culling. Dame takes Paxley with her.

High Ryze comes in to see Trick Williams and next week, it’s Wes Lee vs. Joe Hendry. Williams approves.

Heritage Cup: Stacks vs. Tony D’Angelo

For the vacant cup. Round one begins with D’Angelo knocking him into the corner but Stacks hammers right back. A trip to the apron and a backdrop get D’Angelo out of trouble. With the wrestling not working, they go back to straight brawling to end the round at a standoff. Round two begins with D’Angelo hitting a running clothesline and adding a spear for the pin at 37 seconds of the round and 4:07 overall.

We take a break and come back with Stacks hitting Cement Shoes for a very near fall as round three ends. Round four begins with D’Angelo slugging away but his knee (which was attacked during the break) gives out on the spinebuster attempt. Stacks gets a small package for the pin at 18 seconds of the round and 9:03 overall.

Cue Luca Crusifino to suddenly be D’Angelo’s corner man. Round five begins with Stacks tying up the leg but D’Angelo fights out and hits the spinebuster. Stacks is sent outside where D’Angelo goes after Stacks’ goons. Crusifino comes in to help but accidentally hits D’Angelo in the back with a bucket. A running knee gives Stacks the pin and the cup at 1:41 of the round and 14:21 overall.

Rating: B-. I’m rather impressed by how they’re managing to find new ways to keep up the mystery about Crusifino’s loyalties. At the end of the day, it could go either way as you could say it’s all a bunch of mistakes or he’s being subtle with his backstabbery. That’s a good way to keep the story going and they’re making it work rather well.

Post match D’Angelo lays out Crusifino.

Fatal Influence isn’t impressed with Blake Monroe and Jacy Jayne is ready for the four way tonight, as she’ll find out who loses next.

Thea Hail rants about recent issues when Lainey Reid comes in to mock her. Lash Legend comes in to say she has a match so they can’t be arguing right now.

Ava yells at Ethan Page for attacking Ricky Saints but Page just wants Saints away from him. They’ll settle it in her office next week. Hold on though as Hank & Tank have been attacked.

Joe Hendry is ready to take out Trick Williams and get the TNA World Title back at Slammiversary. He’ll be around here until then, including next week against Wes Lee.

Andre Chase tells his students that they need to toughen up. The attitude is what made the university a success….but Kale Dixon says it’s what killed it as well. Dixon and Uriah Connors leave, saying it was supposed to be different this time. Apparently they’re the ones who stopped Chase when he was closing the university in the first place (which isn’t that big of a reveal).

Lash Legend vs. Jaida Parker vs. Izzi Dame vs. Jordynne Grace

Fatal Influence is watching as Legend slams Grace to start. Dame takes Grace’s place before the other two come back in. Grace and Parker are sent outside again, leaving Dame to slug it out with Legend. That doesn’t work for Legend, who sends Dame outside before missing a charge into the post.

Back in and Grace gets two off a fisherman’s suplex, followed by Dame’s flapjack getting two on Grace. Legend breaks up the Hipnotique but gets taken down by Grace, who is chokeslammed onto the apron by Dame. Cue Tatum Paxley, so Zaria and Sol Ruca grab her and take her back.

We take a break and come back with Parker hitting a Tear Drop each to Grace and Dame. A fireman’s carry to Grace is cut off by Dame’s big boot but Legend puts Dame on top. Parker cuts that off with a Backstabber to Legend and a sunset flip gets two. Since there are four people involved in the match, we get the Tower Of Doom with Parker getting the worst of things, leaving Grace to get two each. Grace misses the Vader Bomb and Legend gives Parker the over the back faceplant. Dame makes the save, leaving Grace to give Parker a spinning torture rack bomb for the pin at 12:52.

Rating: B-. I’m not sure if this earned the THIS IS AWESOME chants it was getting, but I can go with what we were getting here. If nothing else, Grace is someone who could massacre Jayne if given the chance, but that’s what was supposed to happen when Jayne got her title shot in the first place. This was pretty much Grace’s to lose, but the other three hung in there well enough to keep it interesting.

We run down next week’s card to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. They started to look towards both the Great American Bash and Evolution here and that’s something that needed to happen. There are still a few weeks to go, but what matters is that the corner is starting to be turned. As is often (but not always) the case around here, nothing on here is worth going out of your way to see, but it makes for a good overall presentation. Simple, easy to follow stuff and acceptable action tends to work well for NXT and they did it again here.

Results
Trick Williams b. Josh Briggs – Trick Shot
Je’Von Evans b. Tavion Heights – Spinning top rope splash
Ricky Saints b. Ashante Thee Adonis – Roshambo
Stacks b. Tony D’Angelo 2-1
Jordynne Grace b. Izzi Dame, Lash Legend and Jaida Parker – Torture rack powerbomb to Parker

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: June 17, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

We’re less than a month away from the Great American Bash and it might be time to start getting things ready for the show. Last week, Oba Femi beat Jasper Troy in a heck of a hoss fight, meaning he’s going to need a fresh challenger. Other than that, Blake Monroe is going to be signing her contract this week so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening video looks at Jacy Jayne being unhappy over being called the most beatable champion in NXT. As a result, Ava has set up a tournament for the title shot at Evolution.

Evolution Eliminator: Thea Hail vs. Jaida Parker

Hail jumps her from behind during Parker’s entrance and they get inside for the opening bell. Parker hammers away but Hail takes it outside again to ram Parker into the apron. Back in and an exploder suplex gets two on Parker, who is right back with a sidewalk slam for the same. The chinlock goes on and Parker actually pulls her back down to cut off the comeback attempt.

Back up and a snap suplex into a reverse snap suplex gives Parker two but Hail knocks her to the floor again. This time Parker is sent hard into the steps and we take a break. We come back with Hipnotique missing, allowing Hail to grab the Kimura. Parker powers up to drive her into the corner but Hail grabs it again. Parker does tap…but the referee doesn’t see it, leaving Hail to let go anyway. The distraction lets Parker hit Hipnotique for the win at 9:15.

Rating: C+. I rather like that ending, as it’s not something you see very often (Undertaker used it against Brock Lesnar once). Parker being smart to go with the athleticism should serve her well and hopefully this is another step towards the top of the card. She has a long way to go, but at least she got a win here.

Josh Briggs, Yoshiki Inamura and Elijah are ready to beat up First Class and Trick Williams. Elijah leaves and Hank & Tank come in to say Briggs/Inamura have a title shot coming to them. Oba Femi comes in and gets into a quick staredown with Trick Williams (who of course just happened to be there).

Blake Monroe finds the perfect dress for her contract signing.

Evolution Eliminator: Lash Legend vs. Kelani Jordan

Legend shoves her down to start as commentary talks about Sensational Sherri. Jordan is back up with some rapid fire kicks, including a basement superkick. A headlock keeps Jordan in control and she snaps off a running hurricanrana. Legend gets sent outside and we take a break. Back with Legend blocking a sunset flip and blasting Jordan with a pump kick.

An Argentine backbreaker keeps Jordan in trouble but she manages to escape with a Codebreaker. Jordan nails another kick and nips up with Sliced Bread setting up a Five Star for two. One Of A Kind is broken up though and Legend tries a belly to back superplex. That’s reversed into a high crossbody but the 450 hits knees. Legend’s over the back faceplant finishes Jordan at 9:56.

Rating: C+. I’m a bit surprised by the result, but more than that I’m rather surprised that I’m happy about it. Legend’s transformation from…whatever she was before to what she is now is quite impressive as she has figured out quite a few things out. That has turned her into someone who has a lot of promise and I want to see where she goes from here. Jordan should be fine, but I’m not sure what is next for her.

We recap the downfall of the D’Angelo Family and Luca Crusifino being somewhere in the middle.

Tony D’Angelo is tired of waiting on Crusifino and will see him in the ring.

Here is D’Angelo for a chat. He says as the Don, you have to be ready for everything no matter what. That’s what got him in trouble with Stacks, but now he wants to talk to Crusifino right now. Cue Crusifino, who wants to know if this is what we’re doing. D’Angelo asks what happened with Crusifino and Stacks in the desert.

Crusifino says he was kidnapped and had his phone stolen but then Stacks let him go. He didn’t attack Stacks at Battleground because he didn’t know what to do. D’Angelo flat out asks him whose side he’s on but before he can answer, here is Stacks, with some goons, to interrupt.

Stacks talks about D’Angelo not trusting Crusifino and how Crusifino knows what to do next. The goons and Stacks hit the ring with D’Angelo and Crusifino fighting them off, but Crusifino swings at Stacks and hits D’Angelo….by mistake? Stacks certainly approves. That’s a nice touch, as it’s the kind of thing that could actually happen and it worked well.

AJ Francis says KC Navarro is injured and can’t wrestle in tonight’s six man, but Wes Lee will take his place. Trick Williams eventually approves.

We go back to the Chase U classroom, where Kale Dixon has questions but Andre Chase tells him to adjust. Dixon walks out and Uriah Connors goes with him.

The Vanity Project congratulates Ethan Page for hurting Ricky Saints. Cue Saints, who says he’ll be cleared next week. The Project laughs at him but Ashante Thee Adonis comes in to mock him, with a match seeming likely.

Wren Sinclair hasn’t talked to Charlie Dempsey, though Tavion Evans Heights apparently wants out of the team. Je’Von Evans wants him out as well, so Dempsey says Heights and Evans can fight for Heights’ freedom. That was quite the messy way to set up the match.

Blake Monroe has photos taken.

Elijah/Yoshiki Inamura/Josh Briggs vs. AJ Francis/Wes Lee/Trick Williams

The injured KC Navarro and the rest of High Ryze are here with the villains. Lee kicks away at Inamura to start but said kicks are shrugged off, allowing the tags off to Briggs and Francis. Briggs gets a boot up in the corner and it’s off to Williams, who gets clotheslined by Elijah. The Old School knee gives Elijah two but Williams kicks him in the chest. Everything breaks down and Lee’s flip dive is pulled out of the air.

Francis gets planted and splashed as we take a break. Back with Inamura fighting out of a crossface chickenwing but getting caught with a spear for two. Lee adds a slingshot hilo for two more but Inamura gives him a very spinning slam. Briggs comes in to clean house, followed by Elijah unloading on Williams in the corner. Everything breaks down and Lee accidentally takes Williams out. Inamura’s top rope splash finishes Williams at 11:03.

Rating: B-. This was the big six man tag and I’m not sure if really lived up to the hype. In theory this should set up Inamura as Williams’ next challenger, and if that means seeing Inamura getting kicked in the face, I can live with the idea. Other than that, Francis is getting the hang of being a big man and Lee was fine enough to fill in for Navarro. Not a bad match, but kind of underwhelming.

Sol Ruca and Zaria are ready for tonight, with Tatum Paxley following them.

Stevie Turner, Ava and Robert Stone are in the back when Luca Crusifino and Tony D’Angelo come in. D’Angelo wants Crusifino to face Stacks next week but Ava says no….because Stacks is getting a Heritage Cup shot. Stacks’ consigliere already signed off on it, which has D’Angelo all the angrier.

Evolution Eliminator: Zaria vs. Izzi Dame

Sol Ruca and the rest of the Culling are here too. Dame kicks her in the face to start and they slug it out until Zaria gets two off a suplex. Back up and Dame powers her into the corner so Zaria grabs a choke to lift Dame into the air. We take a break and come back with Dame blocking a German suplex.

Instead Zaria is sent into the corner and a slam gives Dame two. A chokeslam gives Dame two more but Zaria pops up with the clotheslines. Now the German suplex can connect but cue Tatum Paxley to grab Ruca. That’s enough of a distraction for Dame to hit a Sky High for the pin at 8:23.

Rating: C. Zaria takes another loss, but this one did at least seem to be designed to set up something for her with Paxley going forward. That should eventually lead to the split with Ruca, which is a logical way for them all to go. Dame winning is fine as the four way will need someone to take the fall and it’s not like she has a ton of status to lose.

Josh Briggs says Yoshiki Inamura should get a TNA Title shot but Inamura wants Briggs to have it instead. Inamura will go after the NXT Title instead.

Evolution Eliminator: Lola Vice vs. Jordynne Grace

The early grappling goes nowhere to start so Vice grabs a running headscissors to send her flying. Vice fires off the kicks and hits the running hip attack in the corner as we take an early break. Back with Vice charging into a boot in the corner so Grace grabs a Death Valley Driver for two. The Vader Bomb is countered into a triangle choke though, with Grace having to powerbomb her way to freedom. The Juggernaut Driver is blocked so Grace takes her up top, where Vice pulls grace down by the arm for two. Grace suplexes her down though and grabs the Juggernaut Driver for the pin at 8:37.

Rating: B-. This was the power vs. striking and that’s a simple format which worked well here. Grace winning makes sense as she has been close to the title picture for a long time now. Vice very well could get back there and had a great showing at Worlds Collide, but Grace is the better pick at the moment.

So it’s Parker vs. Legend vs. Dame vs. Grace for the title shot. We recap the four matches.

Zaria yells at Tatum Paxley but Izzi Dame comes in to say Zaria and Sol Ruca aren’t her real friends anyway. Dame wouldn’t leave her out of Tik Tok videos.

Noam Dar is ready to defend the Heritage Cup against Stacks next week.

Here is Ava for Blake Monroe’s contract signing. Monroe comes out to say she has been waiting to jump into bed with the talent in that locker room. The spotlight is on her now and she signs, which brings out Fatal Influence. They don’t like Monroe, with Jacy Jayne calling her the new flavor of the month. The brawl is on and Monroe is sent though a table. That’s kind of a weird way to present the new star but it seems to set Monroe up for a big feud right out of the box. Also seemingly not as a heel, which is a weird way to go.

We run down next week’s show to wrap it up.

Overall Rating: B-. Well they definitely had a focus here, as this might be the most women’s wrestling heavy show I’ve ever seen in NXT. That’s not a bad thing either, as I do like a show where there is a theme running throughout the entire night. Next week is looking stacked, though they’re going to need to shift towards the Great American Bash soon. Odds are that starts next week and that’s about as late as they can take it. Good enough show here, with the best women’s division going getting a big spotlight.

Results
Jaida Parker b. Thea Hail – Hipnotique
Lash Legend b. Kelani Jordan – Over the back faceplant
Yoshiki Inamura/Josh Briggs/Elijah b. Trick Williams/Wes Lee/AJ Francis – Top rope splash to Williams
Izzi Dame b. Zaria – Sky High
Jordynne Grace b. Lola Vice – Juggernaut Driver

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

NXT
Date: June 10, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

It’s time for a hoss fight as Oba Femi is defending the NXT Title against Jasper Troy. That alone should be a heck of a fight as both of them are capable of hitting the other very hard. Other than that, we have the beginning of the build towards Great American Bash, which is about a month away. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Jasper Troy attacked Oba Femi in the parking lot and chokeslammed him through a windshield.

North American Title: Sean Legacy vs. Ethan Page

Legacy is challenging. Page takes him down with a headlock to start and then does it again without much trouble. Back up and Legacy dropkicks the leg out, with Page bailing out to the floor. We take a break and come back with Page knocking him down again. Legacy gets to the apron for a springboard missile dropkick and a German suplex drops Page again. Shambles is blocked though, leaving Legacy to hit a reverse sitout gordbuster. They go outside where Legacy escapes an Ego’s Edge and posts Page. Back in and the springboard 450 misses though and the Twisted Grin retains the title at 10:22.

Rating: C+. Legacy isn’t breaking out as a star yet but having him rub elbows with people like Page, a former NXT Champion, is a good sign for his future. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Legacy on the full NXT roster rather soon, as he hasn’t felt like he belonged in Evolve from the start. Page continues to win, which is at least a good sign for him after his mostly fluke NXT Title reign.

Post match Ricky Saints runs in to beat Page up and send him running off.

Jacy Jayne asks Ava about the next challenger but Lainey Reid comes in to slap her in the face. Reid does it again and that’s enough for Jayne to give her a title shot tonight.

Earlier today, Lash Legend got in an argument with various women and seems set for a match later.

Shawn Spears says he trusts Izzi Dame but asks why she hit Brooks Jensen with a chair. Dame says it was due to Jensen hinting at wanting a different family. He had to go, with the rest of the team understanding. She has her eyes on someone new.

The Culling vs. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura

Vance and Inamura lock up to start with Inamura hitting a flying shoulder. Spears comes in for some chops, which just wake Inamura up that much more. It’s off to Briggs, who flips Spears over into a backbreaker. Briggs runs Spears over again but Dame’s distraction lets Vance get in a cheap shot. That doesn’t last long as Briggs hits Vance in the face and brings Inamura back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Briggs’ moonsault is countered into a Dominator to give Vance the pin at 5:14.

Rating: C. I’m not sure what else they could have gone here, as Briggs and Inamura don’t win much and the Culling needed a victory after seemingly throwing Brooks Jensen off the team. The Culling doesn’t have much going on at the moment, but maybe they could bring in someone else. Like Briggs, to get him away from this Inamura team.

Ava yells at Ricky Saints, whose neck is still so messed up that he can’t talk.

Oba Femi is banged up and the NXT Title match might be in jeopardy.

Andre Chase yells at Chase U for getting beaten up again and not following his instructions. They’re all the way in, so Chase says it’s time to go back to class.

We recap the former Mariah May’s debut last week and join her in a bath. She’s beauty, she’s grace and she’ll probably punch you in the face. She’s the Glamour and she is Blake Monroe. Eh, I’ve heard worse names. Apparently this is VERY inspired by singer Sabrina Carpenter. Ok then.

Lash Legend vs. Wren Sinclair

Kelani Jordan, who was involved in the argument that set this up, is on commentary. Legend powers her down to start and blocks a sunset flip attempt. Sinclair is fine enough to sweep the leg though and grabs Cattle Mutilation of all things. With that broken up, Legend kicks her in the head and drops a splash for two. The bearhug goes on but Sinclair fights out and avoids a charge in the corner. Sinclair tries to go up but gets pulled out of the air and slammed down with the behind the back faceplant for the pin at 4:05.

Rating: C+. These are two people who feel like they could turn into something bigger down the line, even if Sinclair is settling nicely into her role of putting everyone else over. Legend on the other hand feels like a heck of a prospect and will likely be moving up the ladder a lot sooner than later. She has that it factor and that is absolutely worth protecting.

We get a profile on Lainey Reid, who is a southerner and a former track athlete. Tonight, she’s going to show the world that Jacy Jayne is the most beatable champion in WWE.

Jasper Troy didn’t waste his title shot because he knows Oba Femi will be out there no matter what.

Women’s Title: Jacy Jayne vs. Lainey Reid

Jayne, with the rest of Fatal Influence, is defending. Reid gets an early rollup for two to start but Jayne kicks her down and drops a backsplash. Jayne sends her throat first across the ropes to keep Reid down and we take a break. Back with Jayne driving her into the corner but Reid gets in a kick to the chest. Reid’s middle rope…we’ll call it a clothesline….puts Jayne down again and they slap it out. Reid gets the better of things and a swinging suplex gets two. A knee to the face gets two more but Henley offers a distraction, allowing Jayne to hit the Rolling Encore (I think?) to retain at 10:26.

Rating: C. I like the idea of playing up Jayne as such a beatable champion, as she can pick up some wins to slowly start shaking off that moniker. At the same time, she beat a newcomer in Reid, who loses nothing by getting beaten by a much bigger name. Reid still hasn’t shown me much in the ring dating back to her LVL Up days, but NXT needs some replacements after so many people were moved off the show.

Post match Ava pops up on the platform and announces a mini tournament for the #1 contendership, with the title shot taking place at Evolution. Jayne looks nervous.

Josh Briggs is disappointed in the tag team loss but here is TNA’s First Class to mock them. Yoshiki Inamura says AJ Francis is annoying but here is Elijah to blame First Class for the TNA World Title not being in TNA.

Tony D’Angelo and Luca Crusifino don’t seem to trust each other before their tag match.

Charlie Dempsey wishes Myles Borne luck in the future and Borne thanks him for everything the No Quarter Catch Crew did for him. Je’Von Evans comes in to say that was a tough loss for Dempsey, who wants to face Evans as a result.

Video on Worlds Collide.

Mr. Iguana and El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.

Tony D’Angelo/Luca Crusifino vs. High Ryze

Wes Lee is here with High Ryze. Crusifino chops Igwe to start so it’s off to DuPont as commentary starts asking why anyone in the D’Angelo Family would care about D’Angelo. As that random attack begins, D’Angelo comes in and gets stomped down in the corner. That doesn’t last long and D’Angelo gets up and makes the tag off to Crusifino. House is quickly cleaned on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Crusifino fighting out of a chinlock so Igwe pulls him into a front facelock instead. Crusifino manages a running Codebreaker and the diving tag brings in D’Angelo for the spinebuster. Cue Stacks for a distraction but D’Angelo cuts him off. Crusifino picks up a crowbar (which Stacks may have brought in) but D’Angelo sees him before Crusifino can do anything with it (Crusifino hadn’t even raised it yet). Igwe decks D’Angelo though and the Heartstopper is good for the pin at 9:46.

Rating: C+. WWE absolutely loves that WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO style of booking and that’s because it often works. The good thing about what they set up here was you could see it going either way, which opens up some options. I’m curious to see what does happen and that’s more than I can say about a lot of what the D’Angelo Family was doing. That being said, commentary suddenly turning on D’Angelo is quite the red flag.

Trick Williams does not like the implication that he needed First Class’ help the beat Elijah and agrees to team with them against Elijah/Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

NXT Title: Oba Femi vs. Jasper Troy

Femi, who is banged up from earlier, is defending. Troy goes after the bad ribs to start and hits a backsplash but Femi manages a slam. Femi fights back until a suplex brings him right back down. They go outside where a clothesline drops Femi, who is whipped so hard into the corner that the middle rope breaks.

We take a break and come back (with the rope fixed) with Femi being dropped hard onto the apron. A splash gives Troy two but Femi makes the clothesline comeback. Femi hits a spinebuster for two but walks into a chokeslam. Jasper shrugs off being tossed and hits a Black Hole Slam for two more. They go outside where Femi sends him through the barricade, followed by the Fall From Grace for….two. Another Fall From Grace retains at 11:21.

Rating: B. Now this was more like it as you had two big guys just beating the daylights out of each other. Troy got a bit of an advantage thanks to the attack earlier in the day and that’s a smart move given how much of a favorite Femi would be here. There is something about watching Femi go into that higher mode where he just wrecks everyone in sight. That’s what we got here, though Troy was more than holding his own for at least awhile.

Overall Rating: B-. That main event bailed out an otherwise not so interesting show, which is more than a little surprising. NXT has been doing well enough lately but they were missing here a bit. Hopefully things turn around, though the TNA stuff isn’t interesting me very much at the moment. Stick with the interesting stories in the women’s division, plus Femi doing whatever he has going on, which tends to be quite good.

Results
Ethan Page b. Sean Legacy – Twisted Grin
The Culling b. Josh Briggs/Yoshiki Inamura – Dominator to Briggs
Lash Legend b. Wren Sinclair – Behind the back faceplant
Jacy Jayne b. Lainey Reid – Rolling Encore
High Ryze b. Tony D’Angelo/Luca Crusifino – Heartstopper to D’Angelo
Oba Femi b. Jasper Troy – Fall From Grace

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Worlds Collide
Date: June 7, 2025
Location: Kia Forum, Los Angeles, California
Commentators: Corey Graves, Konnan

It’s a special show as we have AAA vs. NXT. This would be a bizarre way to go for years now but things have changed a lot as WWE has bought (or is apparently in the process of buying) AAA, meaning things like this could happen more often. There is a nice mixture of stuff going on here so let’s get to it.

The opening video, as narrated in Spanish by Rey Mysterio (makes sense) talks about how there are moments that change everything. We see clips of an imminent collision, mixed in with various clips of famous Latino wrestlers in WWE, as well as AAA stars. I’m not sure how big this really is, but they’re making it feel epic so well done.

Corey Graves and Konnan talk about how big the show is and how much lucha libre has meant to American wrestling. That is one of the most bizarre commentary teams you’ll ever see.

We open with various AAA officials and wrestlers in the ring, along with Shawn Michaels and HHH, for the Mexican national anthem. There are also banners to I believe AAA’s founders, which is a tradition for AAA.

Lilian Garcia sings the Star Spangled Banner.

Here is Rey Mysterio (clearly still not at 100%) to get things going. After taking a long look at the AAA logo on the mat (you can tell that means a lot to him), Mysterio speaks in English and Spanish about how great it is to see lucha libre spreading like this. He seems to talk about the roster and how proud he is of lucha libre (though my Spanish is limited at best).

Mr. Iguana/Aerostar/Octagon Jr. vs. Lince Dorado/LWO

Octagon and del Toro start things off with Octagon taking him down by the arm. Back up and they lock hands with del Toro flipping him over. A legdrop misses though and Octagon’s rollup gets two. They trade armdrags until a legsweep misses, giving us a standoff. Iguana (he seems rather popular) comes in to face Dorado with Iguana crawling around like a…well you get the idea.

Dorado chops him down and Iguana stays on the mat with all four limbs up. An armdrag takes Dorado down and Iguana gets his iguana puppet, who blocks Dorado’s right hand. The puppet goes into Iguana’s mouth as he spins around and is then put onto Dorado for an Iguana counted two. The fans chant for Iguana and yeah that’s not a surprise as he’ll likely get over like crazy in a hurry.

Aerostar comes in for a running hurricanrana to Lee but gets flipped out to the apron. A corkscrew high crossbody hits Lee and the AAA guys send them outside. Iguana hits a running flip dive but there is no one to catch Dorado Octagon, who just crashes to the floor. Aerostar hits a suicide dive onto Lee as the fans are rather approving. Back in and Aerostar’s top rope splash hits raised knees and some splashes connect for two.

That’s broken up and it’s back to Iguana, who misses a charge at del Toro in the corner. A dropkick takes out Iguana’s leg though as Konnan talks about how del Toro hasn’t wrestled like this in a long time. Iguana winds up in an electric chair but he spins around into a faceplant. It’s time for the puppet (who has a name that I can’t make out), who is handed to Dorado, allowing Iguana to dive onto Lee.

Dorado snaps and beats up the puppet, even giving it a standing Spanish Fly. Iguana is TICKED (as he should be) and spins around into an anklescissors to send Dorado flying. The puppet is used to whip all three opponents and then we play pass the puppet. A triple superkick drops Iguana and everything breaks down, with Dorado hitting a double Golden Rewind (handspring Stunner).

Dorado’s shooting star press gets two and he grabs a super hurricanrana to send Octagon flying (that looked good). We get a series of knockdowns, including del Toro’s rope walk dropkick to Iguana. Aerostar is back up with a heck of a step up dive to the floor and del Toro adds a big corkscrew dive of his own. Back in and Octagon chops it out with Dorado until Octagon takes him up top for a super flipping World’s Strongest Slam and the pin at 14:04.

Rating: B+. This was a blast and all kinds of fun with everyone getting to stand out. Iguana is the kind of unique star with a fun gimmick that will get him over for a long time to come. They were trying to have a traditional lucha libre six man tag here and since everyone involved knows exactly how to do that style, it worked well. Awesome stuff here and incredibly entertaining.

Post match Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan are in the crowd, with Dominik saying it’s sad that Octagon is such a big Rey Mysterio fan because Rey is a DEADBEAT FATHER! Octagon comes over and the Spanish insults fly from Dominik so the fight is on. They get in the ring and slug it out, with the two of them eventually being separated. Dominik eventually says he’ll see Octagon at Money In The Bank (later tonight) and he’ll even put the Intercontinental Title up. Well that escalated quickly.

We get a video on the history of AAA, which was started in Mexico in the 90s by Antonio Pena. He founded the promotion and changed everything about wrestling in Mexico as an alternative to tradition. Then thirty five years passed and here we are!

AAA legends Mascarita Sagrada and Latin Lover are here.

Legado del Fantasma is ready to show that they are the real representatives of lucha libre.

We recap the women’s tag match. Stephanie Vaquer has hit the ground running in NXT/WWE and Chik Tormenta/Dalys don’t like her due to some past issues. A tag match was set up, with Lola Vice agreeing to team with Vaquer, and here we are.

Dalys/Chik Tormenta vs. Stephanie Vaquer/Lola Vice

Vaquer starts with Dalys, who gets taken down but powers out of the Devi’s Kiss attempt. Tormenta comes in for a clothesline to put Vaquer down but it’s quickly off to Vice. Vaquer adds a 619 so Vice can get two, only to be pulled into a quick half crab. Back up and Vice fires off the kicks, including the bouncing versions to send Dalys into the wrong corner. The string of hip attacks connect for Vice and she grabs a cross armbreaker on Dalys (ignore her tapping).

That’s broken up in a hurry and Vice is sent outside where the beating continues. Back in and we hit the chinlock/double arm crank on Vice as lucha legend Negro Casas (who trained Vice) is watching from the crowd. Vice fights up and rolls over for the tag off to Vaquer, who comes in with a high crossbody to Dalys. Vaquer takes Dalys out of the corner for two, setting up stereo Devil’s Kisses from Vaquer and Vice. The SVB is blocked so Vaquer gives Dalys a superkick, followed by the SVB for the pin at 9:53.

Rating: B-. Well there was no way Vaquer was going to job here, so the question became which of the other three would do so. It was hard to imagine that Vaquer’s team would be losing either way, especially after AAA won the first match, so this was only in so much doubt. As usual, Vaquer feels like one of the biggest stars in the division and Vice felt like she got a nice breakout moment here. Good enough match here, but they were in a rough spot after that opener.

Post match Vice and Vaquer talk about how great it is to be here and seem happy with their win. Vaquer is more than ready to win Money In The Bank too.

Chad Gable isn’t worried about being in Mexico because these people have embraced him. That’s in addition to embracing El Grande Americano, who is going to win Money In The Bank, after Gable wins the AAA Mega Title.

Legado del Fantasma is ready to prove themselves as the real first family of lucha libre. This is the same promo that aired on Smackdown.

Psycho Clown, Pagano and Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. are ready for six man as well, with Clown bringing up that he was in the match where Santos Escobar lost his mask in Mexico.

Chavo Guerrero is here.

A social media star is here, but according to the graphic, he’s the Street Profits. Well to be fair he is wearing a mask.

Legado del Fantasma vs. Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr./Pagano/Psycho Clown

Berto takes Hijo into the corner to start as we hear about WWE and TNA stars wanting to be on an upcoming AAA show. I get that it’s a different world but my goodness that will never sound right. Hijo runs the ropes and snaps off a hurricanrana into an armbar. That’s broken up so it’s off to Clown, who switches into a double German suplex to Berto and Angel at the same time.

Pagano (a hardcore brawler) comes in for a….I think it was supposed to be a double flapjack but Berto escaped and Garza was barely lifted. Instead Pagano sends both of them outside but Escobar moves Berto out of the way, leaving Pagano to crash to the floor. Back in and Pagano gets caught in the wrong corner, allowing the villains to start the beating. That doesn’t last long as Pagano gets in a shot and rolls over for the tag to Clown.

Angel gets tied in the Tree of Woe for a dropkick, followed by a Code Red for two on Berto. Hijo comes back in to chop it out with Escobar before everything breaks down. The AAA guys hit running dives to the floor but Hijo gets caught in the wrong corner back inside. The double super gorilla press slam drops Hijo but Clown is back up with the Psycho Driver (Air Raid Crash) to the apron.

Angel takes him down with a sitout powerbomb but Clown is back in with a sitout powerbomb. Everything breaks down and Escobar is left alone in the ring. Hijo cuts him off for two more but Escobar’s super hurricanrana gets the same. Back up and the Phantom Driver gives Escobar the pin at 14:59.

Rating: B-. Another good six man match here with some familiar faces. Clown looked like a star and Hijo looked more than good enough. On the other hand you had Pagano who was pretty hit and miss, which tends to be normal for him. Legado looked good as well, with WWE getting a nice showcase win over some AAA stars.

We look at the 1994 When Worlds Collide show, which was a huge introduction to AAA (and lucha libre) for a lot of people. There were a lot of legends on that show, including Konnan, Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, who got quite a bit of exposure as a result.

El Hijo del Vikingo is ready to fly against Chad Gable.

Savio Vega, Damian Priest and Blue Demon Jr. are here.

NXT North American Title: Je’Von Evans vs. Rey Fenix vs. Laredo Kid vs. Ethan Page

Page is defending (Kid’s AAA Cruiserweight Title isn’t on the line). The challengers gang up on Page to start but Kid’s dive is cut off. Evans stares down at Fenix and teases a right hand before going with the rollup instead. Fenix is back up with the very springboardy wristdrag but Page is back in with a hurricanrana of his own. Evans takes him down and hits the big dropkick to the floor.

Fenix is back up with a spider kick to Evans and hits a big dive to take out everyone on the floor. Back in and the fans want tables, which has Konnan confused, as the action has already been good (fair point). Page knocks Evans off the top though and hits a top rope splash, followed by a powerslam for two with Fenix making the save. Kid hits a backbreaker but Evans cuts him off on the top.

Evans hits a heck of a no hands dive to the floor to drop Page and ties Kid in the Tree Of Woe. That sets up what was supposed to be a Swanton dropkick (he didn’t get all of it but dang that was a cool idea), followed by a springboard cutter for two on Fenix. Back up and Fenix kicks Page into the ropes for the rope walk kick, followed by a very high angle armdrag to Kid.

Some kicks to the face rock Evans and the Fenix Driver gets two. Page takes out Fenix but gets caught with Evans’ springboard clothesline and everyone is down. Fenix and Kid go up top with the former hitting a super Spanish Fly (for you Cornette podcast fans out there, Graves shouted “KONNAN! KONNAN!” before he jumped), only for Page to hit Fenix with the Ego’s Edge. Evans makes the save but gets sent outside, leaving Page to hit the Twisted Grin for the pin on Kid at 14:55.

Rating: B. This was a very fun, fast paced match with people getting to go all over the place until one of them couldn’t get up again. They were all flying around and I was buying the chance that the title could change hands. Page was there to antagonize the fans and the other three were flying around like crazy. Some of the spots were great here and I had a lot of fun with the whole thing.

We look at Triplemania, the biggest AAA show of the year. It has been running since the 90s and will continue again this year.

We recap Chad Gable challenging El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Title. Vikingo won the title last week, which has Gable more excited than he was before. Gable is on a quite to unlock the dark arts of lucha libre and it’s time to make everyone say VIVA. Vikingo isn’t impressed because he is the heart and soul of AAA.

AAA Mega Title: El Hijo de Vikingo vs. Chad Gable

Gable is challenging. Vikingo takes him down by the arm to start but Gable sweeps the leg, thanks the fans, and slaps Vikingo’s hand in an armbar. Back up and Vikingo does a weird lifting stretch but Gable reverses into another armbar. Vikingo gets up again and has to break a quick ankle lock. Gable misses a charge into the post and a running Meteora sends him crashing out to the floor.

Vikingo follows him out with a 630 to the back (geez) for two but Gable gets the knees up to block a running shooting star. Back up and Gable sends him into the steps before loading up the required table. Gable can’t hit a German suplex through the table but can knock Vikingo down again to take it back inside. A monkey flip out of the corner gives Gable two, followed by abdominal stretch to stay on the ribs.

The bridging German suplex gets two more on Vikingo and Gable armbars him over the ropes to cut off a comeback attempt. Gable goes up but dives into a Codebreaker, leaving both of them down. Vikingo ties him in the ropes for a rather long range top rope double stomp, followed by the spinning middle rope 450 (geez again) for two. Back up and Gable hits a Razor’s Edge Dominator but has to bail out of the moonsault.

Instead, Gable catches him on top and hits a super sitout powerbomb for the scary crazy. Gable insists that Vikingo “is just a luchador” and gets knocked to the apron, where Vikingo hits a diving Canadian Destroyer to knock him silly. Vikingo puts him on the table but takes too long, allowing Gable to shove Vikingo off the top. That lets Gable hit a moonsault to send Vikingo through the table, leaving them both down. Back in and they slug it out until Gable gets the ankle lock. That’s broken up as well and Vikingo hits a poisonrana. The running knees in the corner set up the 630 to retain Vikingo’s title at 22:00.

Rating: B+. Vikingo’s flying stuff was incredible (as usual) and Gable being out there as the wrestler made for a good battle. It was reaching the levels of epic that you need in a match like this, though that table spot at the end made me roll my eyes a bit. Heck of a match here, with Vikingo looking like a star and Gable hanging right there with him the whole time.

Vikingo poses with some wrestlers and AAA people to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Yeah this was great and an incredible experience throughout. It felt like a AAA show with the benefits of WWE making it that much better. The action was awesome, with the two weakest matches being pretty good at worst. I had a great time with this and you could tell that this meant a lot to the people involved. Awesome show here and it has me a lot more interested in seeing what WWE is going to be doing with AAA going forward.

Results
Octagon Jr./Mr. Iguana/Aerostar b. Lince Dorado/LWO – Super flipping World’s Strongest Slam to Dorado
Stephanie Vaquer/Lola Vice b. Dalys/Chik Tormenta – SVB to Tormenta
Legado del Fantasma b. Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr./Pagano/Psycho Clown – Phantom Driver to Escobar
Ethan Page b. Laredo Kid, Rey Fenix and Je’Von Evans – Twisted Grin to Kid
El Hijo de Vikingo b. Chad Gable – 630

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Evolve
Date: June 4, 2025
Location: WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Peter Rosenberg, Robert Stone

It’s time for another big show this week, with the first Men’s Evolve Champion being crowned in another four way elimination match. That should make for a big time match, but we also might be finding out what is going on with the first ever Women’s Evolve Champion, as Kali Armstrong won the title last week. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening video looks at the four participants in the men’s title match and teases fallout from last week’s title match.

Opening sequence.

Here is Kali Armstrong to brag about her title win. She’s happy with how things went and now she wants to see how hard this can get. So who is first to come after the title? Cue Zayda Steele, who says they are both history makers. Armstrong is the first Evolve Champion and Steele is the first official WWE ID prospect. Cue Nikkita Lyons to say she should get the first title shot because she’s not afraid to pounce. She should be getting the first title shot and the brawl is on. Armstrong gets double teamed down so here is Natalya to make the save. Natalya goes to help Armstrong, who snatches the title away from her again.

Carlee Bright has been attacked backstage. Post break, Bright says it was someone in a black hoodie but she couldn’t see their face. She’s cleared to compete, with Stevie Turner not sure what to do.

Keanu Carver is ready to win the title because he wants a ticket to avoid going back to the streets of Washington DC.

Sean Legacy, with Timothy Thatcher, says he’s been waiting eight long years for this.

Jin Tala vs. Carlee Bright

Bright has a bad shoulder coming in so Tala goes right for it, with an early takedown getting two. Bright fights up with an armbar of her own and a knockdown gets two. Tala goes after the arm again but Bright is right back up with a Codebreaker. The standing moonsault misses though and Tala ties up the arm for the tap at 4:19.

Rating: C. That was short and to the point, though Tala didn’t exactly blow anyone away. The problem here was the focus being on Bright’s injury more than Tala, making her feel secondary. She beat a low level star who came in injured. That’s not exactly a great way to make your debut, though at least she did get the win.

We look at Wendy Choo attacking Kylie Rae after last week’s title match.

Rae wants to fight Choo and wrap it up but Chantel Monroe comes in to call Rae annoying.

The Vanity Project gives Jackson Drake a pep talk.

Edris Enofe talks about his shoulder injury, but what hurt him worse was having to be out of the ring for so long.

Here is High Ryze for a chat. Wes Lee talks about seeing people with dreams and potential in the locker room, and maybe they can become the next big thing. Lee loves that these people think they can take his spot but it’s not happening. He has a lot more that he wants to accomplish but here are Cappuccino Jones and Jack Cartwheel to interrupt. They’re not here for a rematch though, but rather because Jones wants to face Lee one on one. Jones wants to prove himself and Lee agrees, though he thinks Jones is in over his head.

Je’Von Evans is here to present the first Evolve Men’s Title and runs into Jordan Oasis, who he likes.

Marcus Mathers is coming and is very excited.

Evolve Men’s Title: Keanu Carver vs. Jackson Drake vs. Sean Legacy vs. Edris Enofe

Elimination match for the inaugural title. They start fast with Legacy and Drake being sent outside. Enofe hits a huge flip dive and follows with a high crossbody to Carver. That’s not working for Carver, who is back with his spinning powerslam for the pin on Enofe at 1:49. Well thanks for coming man. We take a break and come back with Legacy and Drake taking turns on Carver, with a missile dropkick into a moonsault getting two. A running knee into a springboard 450 finishes Drake at 4:16, leaving us with Legacy vs. Drake for the title.

They immediately start trading shots to the face before exchanging German suplexes. A super Spanish Fly gives Legacy two but Shambles is broken up. Drake drapes him over the top and gets two off a Swanton, followed by a kick to the head for the same. Legacy pulls him into the STF but Drake makes the rope. Another Shambles is broken up and the running knee gives Drake the pin and the title at 10:06.

Rating: C+. Much like last week, this was actually pretty disappointing. At the end of the day, it felt like a match that was totally rushed. The first two eliminations didn’t mean anything and it was basically Drake vs. Legacy for the title. That’s a fine way to go, but when you build this up as being some epic showdown, you kind of expect more out of such a monumental moment. That being said, Drake needed to win here as the Vanity Project needs some success given how prominently they’re being featured.

Post match the Vanity Project comes in to celebrate and Je’Von Evans presents Drake with the title. Drake is thrilled and hugs Evans to end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Well, the main event wasn’t great and Tala’s debut was just ok, with Jones and Lee’s showdown not being much better. There wasn’t much to see on this show and I’m hoping they can pick up the pace next week. Just not much to see here, on a show which should have been huge given the nature of the main event.

Results
Jin Tala b. Carlee Bright – Arm lock
Jackson Drake b. Sean Legacy, Keanu Carver and Edris Enofe last eliminating Legacy

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: June 3, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Vic Joseph, Corey Graves

We’re coming up on Worlds collide and some of the show will feature NXT stars. That’s going to get some attention tonight, but at the same time, we have the TNA World Title on the line as Trick Williams defends against TNA’s Mike Santana. That should be a big one so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap looks at last week’s title changes and this week’s TNA World Title match being set up. The shock over Jacy Jayne winning the women’s Title is still great.

Here are Laredo Kid, Je’Von Evans and Ethan Page for a chat. Page makes it clear that Rey Fenix isn’t here tonight due to travel issues so he should be in the ring tapdancing on the memory of Ricky Saints. Now though, someone named Sean Legacy is getting a title shot but Evans and Kid both want the title. Page goes to leave but here is Legacy to cut him off. Legacy would love to face either Evans or Kid, but next week he could become a double champion. Cue the Vanity Project to say Jackson Drake is winning the Evolve Title and they have Page’s back. The brawl is on with the good guys hitting stereo dives.

El Hijo del Vikingo is here.

Chase U vs. Darkstate

Darkstate charges in to start the beating early and Connors is thrown inside for the beating. Lennox comes in and plants Connors with a backbreaker into a Boston crab. That’s broken up and it’s off to Dixon to grab a suplex. It’s already back to Connors, who sends Griffin outside for a breather. Everything breaks down and Chase U fires off some superkicks. Griffin casually suplexes both of them at once though and it’s the toss sitout powerbomb for the pin on Dixon at 3:30.

Rating: C. It wasn’t quite a squash but this one wasn’t in doubt. I’m not sure where Chase U goes after all of this as they aren’t being treated as anything serious. Hopefully they get the chance to boost the team up soon, because this hasn’t been much so far. On the other hand, Darkstate continues to feel important, which is more than I was expecting from them at this point.

Ava tells Sean Legacy, Laredo Kid and Je’Von Evans to find a partner to face Ethan Page and the Vanity Project. They don’t know anyone, but Dragon Lee comes in to say he’ll do it.

Trick Williams is ready to beat Mike Santana.

Earlier this week, Tyra Mae Steele was nervous about making her NXT debut. Arianna Grace comes in to say no one likes someone who talks too much. Steele thinks she has found her first opponent.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Myles Borne

Rounds match (as in Heritage Cup rules) and if Borne wins, he is free from the No Quarter Catch Crew. Round one begins with Dempsey working on the arm and not getting anywhere, meaning it’s an early standoff. Borne goes back to the arm but gets pulled down into a headscissors with an armbar. That’s broken up so they fight over near falls until Borne stacks him up for the pin at 2:54.

We take a break and come back with some grappling taking us to a stalemate to end round two. Borne gives a clean break but Dempsey knees him in the ribs for a cheap shot. After a stern warning from the referee, round three begins with Borne firing off uppercuts in the corner. That’s shrugged off and a Regalplex gives Dempsey the pin to tie it up at 25 seconds of the round and 7:43 total.

Round four begins with Dempsey going after the banged up ribs, including an octopus hold. That’s broken up and Borne fights back, including an Angle Slam for two. Another Regalplex is blocked and they trade near falls until Borne hits his dropkick for the winning pin at 2:47 of the round and 11:06 total.

Rating: C+. That’s how it should have gone, as you couldn’t have Borne lose again after the rather awesome performance at Battleground. Borne has completely outgrown the No Quarter Catch Crew so having him overcome some cheating to win at Dempsey’s own game is a great way to get him out of the team. Nice match here, with the absolute right result.

Izzi Dame attacks Brooks Jensen with a chair because he’s officially out of the Culling.

Tyra Mae Steele vs. Arianna Grace

Steele is a former Olympic gold medal winning wrestler and the winner of the first season of LFG. Steele wastes no time in wrestling her to the mat, followed by a northern lights suplex. Grace stomps away in the corner but Steele isn’t having that and makes the comeback. A bridging German suplex gives Steele the pin at 2:24. If you want to make her look like a star, this was a good way to go about it.

We look back at Jacy Jayne winning the Women’s Title last week. Jayne’s line of “you all may be shocked, but I’m not” is pretty awesome.

Mike Santana gives a fired up speech about being ready to fight to save TNA from Trick Williams. He knows how great Williams is, but tonight he’ll be three seconds better.

Here is Fatal Influence for Jacy Jayne’s big celebration. Jayne tells the fans to stay off the bandwagon now that she’s wont he title. The looks on everyone’s faces when she won the title last week made her happy and she was never shocked at all. She has put in the work for years and gotten better. The reality is that she and Fallon Henley have been friends for years and they decided to fake the fight to give her a better chance of winning the title.

Cue Lainey Reid to interrupt, saying Jayne is the most beatable champion of all time. Lola Vice thinks she should get the title as well and here is Jordynne Grace to throw her name in the hat as well. Jaida Parker and Kelani Jordan join the parade, followed by Lash Legend and Thea Hail so the big fight can be on. Then the lights go out….and Mariah May is here. She wants the Women’s Title, though no name is officially given. This was a good way to set up the new reality in the division, with the May debut being the great surprise at the end.

Evolve Prime Minister Stevie Turner and Evolve Women’s Champion Kali Armstrong wants someone to step up.

Ethan Page and the Vanity Project are ready for the eight man tag.

Ethan Page/Vanity Project vs. Sean Legacy/Laredo Kid/Je’Von Evans/Dragon Lee

Kid takes Drake up against the ropes to start and chops away before handing it off to Lee for a running elbow. Stereo basement superkicks get two on Drake and a high crossbody gives Lee the same. Smokes comes in and it’s off to Evans to work on his arm. Legacy gets taken into the wrong corner though and the villains get to take over.

A dropkick starts the comeback though and Legacy hits a suicide dive to take out Swipe Right. Evans and Lee hit dives of their own but Page cuts off Kid’s dive. We take a break and come back with Evans in trouble as Drake stomps on his hands. A legsweep into a standing shooting star press gets two and Drake slaps on a chinlock.

That’s broken up so Page comes in, only to have the Twisted Grin broken up. Evans fires off a superkick and gets Lee back in so house can be cleaned. Everything breaks down and Page’s powerslam gets two with Lee and Kid making the save. Kid and Evans hit a dive each, leaving Legacy to slug it out with Page. Baylor and Lee go to the top, with Lee knocking him down and hitting Operation Dragon for the pin at 13:30.

Rating: B-. For a match designed to set up the four way at Worlds Collide and get Legacy over as a possible threat, I’ve seen far worse. I’m not sure if Lee getting the pin makes sense as he isn’t involved in the match, but maybe they didn’t want to risk giving someone an advantage going into the title match. Nothing out of the ordinary here, but it went well enough.

Oba Femi and Jasper Troy have a tense showdown, where their contract is signed for a future match.

Zaria and Sol Ruca run into Tatum Paxley, who says she didn’t want to go out there earlier. Izzi Dame comes in and suggests that Paxley purge the people who aren’t her real friends.

Tony D’Angelo talks to Luca Crusifino, who has gotten them a match with High Ryze to show that they can trust each other. D’Angelo says that Crusifino didn’t get the Family’s permission, but Crusifino says they really aren’t a family anymore.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

TNA World Title: Trick Williams vs. Mike Santana

Santana is challenging and the winner of this defends against Elijah this Friday at Against All Odds. Williams backs him into the corner to start as the fans are all behind Santana here. A rather intimidating smile sets up Santana driving him into the corner but Williams gets in a shot to the face.

Williams’ running neckbreaker gets two but Santana glares his way up. Another knockdown sends Williams outside where Santana hits a big dive. We take a break and come back with Santana knocking him into the corner for the right hands. Williams scores with the Trick Kick for two before grabbing the cravate. Back up and the chops just fire Santana up, with an exchange of kicks to the head rocking both of them.

Santana hits a Death Valley Driver for a double down and the Rolling Buck Fifty (cutter) gives Santana two. The big Cannonball gets two and a 450 connects for the same, with Williams putting a finger on the ropes. Williams bails to the floor and breaks Elijah’s guitar…and here is First Class (AJ Francis, who is formerly known as Top Dolla, and KC Navarro) from TNA to take Santana out. The Trick Shot retains the title at 12:26.

Rating: B-. The ending was a nice move and while Santana winning the title will be a great moment, it doesn’t need to happen yet. I still expect Joe Hendry to get the title back at Slammiversary for the big moment, but for now, Williams beating someone in a good first defense is a smart way to go. Santana will be fine and can go after First Class to give him some heat back.

Overall Rating: B. This show felt like the week where NXT restocked the shelves, especially in that women’s segment. The door has been revolving at a crazy pace as of late so this is something that they were going to have to do sooner or later. I like how it went, as there are some new faces around here who could make a big impact in a hurry. Good show here, but more of a needed one than anything else.

Results
Darkstate b. Chase U – Toss sitout powerbomb to Dixon
Myles Borne b. Charlie Dempsey 2-1
Tyra Mae Steele b. Arianna Grace – Bridging German suplex
Sean Legacy/Laredo Kid/Je’Von Evans/Dragon Lee b. Ethan Page/Vanity Project – Operation Dragon to Baylor
Trick Williams b. Mike Santana – Trick Shot

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: May 27, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Corey Graves, Booker T.

We’re done with Battleground and that means it is time to start the rather long road to the Great American Bash. Assuming they don’t have a June special, that’s a long way off to get ready for something but it could be a nice positive. The big story coming out of Battleground is Trick Williams winning the TNA World Title. As for tonight, Ethan Page is challenging for the North American Title so let’s get to it.

Here is Battleground if you need a recap.

We open with a long Battleground recap.

North American Title: Ricky Saints vs. Ethan Page

Page is challenging and the brawl is on before the bell, with security having to hold them back. We’re not waiting though as the match officially gets going, with Saints grabbing a headlock on the mat. Page reverses into one of his own but it’s too early for the Ego’s Edge. Instead Saints slips out to the apron and plants Saints down as the fight heads to the floor. Security comes in to break it up again so here is Ava to say….something as we take a break.

Back with Page and Saints beating up the security, with the fans approving. Security tries to get them broken up again but Page uses the distraction to hit a Twisted Grin onto an open chair. Saints is down on the floor and the Ego’s Edge connects for two back inside. They slug it out and Saints counters a powerslam into a tornado DDT. Saints fires off some clotheslines but Page hits an even bigger one to cut him off. A neck snap across the top rope sets up the Twisted Grin to give Page the pin and the title at 12:52.

Rating: B-. This was a wild brawl to start but then it turned into a regular match, which went well too. Saints is likely moving on to something bigger, with the title being a good way to start his NXT run. Page getting the title is a nice way to boost him up again, and adding a former NXT Champion to the title lineage is a smart idea.

Fatal Influence continues to snipe at each other, even though Jacy Jayne is facing Stephanie Vaquer tonight.

Video on TNA’s Mike Santana, who is making his NXT in-ring debut tonight.

Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura are glad to be back together and want the Tag Team Titles.

Mike Santana vs. Tavion Heights

The No Quarter Catch Crew is here with Heights. Santana grabs a headlock to start before a dropkick sends him into the corner. A springboard spinning crossbody drops heights, who is back up with something like a hiptoss. That’s fine with Santana, who sends him outside for the big running flip dive.

We take a break and come back with Heights hitting some running clotheslines up against the ropes. A gutwrench suplex gives Heights two and we hit the chinlock. Santana is back up with a clothesline and enziguri into a rolling cutter for two. The fans certainly approve but are a bit more silenced with Heights hitting a Death Valley Driver. Santana is back up with a fireman’s carry faceplant into Spin The Block (discus lariat) for the pin at 10:22.

Rating: B-. Santana is one of those stars who has one of the most important things you can have in wrestling: that fire in his eyes. There is something you get when you look at him and it makes Santana feel like that much of a bigger deal. It would not surprise me at all to see him be the TNA World Champion at some point this year and coming over to WWE one day down the line. This was a heck of a debut for him and it’s a good sign for his future.

The High Ryze is ready to take over.

Andre Chase tells his students to take risks so they ask Ava for a match. She gives them a match with Darkstate next week, which isn’t what Chase means.

Tony D’Angelo yells at Luca Crusifino about what he did/didn’t do at Battleground. Crusifino says Stacks let him go and he was scared of what would happen if he reached out. D’Angelo says he doesn’t know if he can trust Crusifino, who insists D’Angelo can.

Here is Trick Williams for a chat. He brags about being the first NXT star to be the TNA World Champion but doesn’t want to hear those cheers. These people here are the same people who were cheering for the Average Joe. He’s on his way to TNA to defend the title, which has been held by names such as Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, Drew McIntyre and more. Now he’s turning his back on the fans because they turned their backs on him.

Cue Mike Santana to interrupt, which Williams calls a mistake. Santana isn’t having that because TNA is on a roll and Williams isn’t ruining that. Santana calls Williams a pretend rapper and champion who has never dealt with someone like him. A fight is teased but cue TNA boss Santino Marella to make the title match for next week. Williams isn’t interested in shaking hands so Santana clears the ring and holds up the belt.

Ava tells Stephanie Vaquer that she’ll be in a tag match at Worlds Collide and needs a partner. Lola Vice comes in to say she’ll do it.

Jaida Parker vs. Tatum Paxley

Paxley drives her into the corner to start and manages a butterfly suplex for a knockdown. Parker’s Backstabber out of the corner gives her a breather and the Tear Drop connects. A double arm crank goes on but Paxley is right back up with a rollup. An enziguri has Parker in more trouble and a running flipping Fameasser drops her again. Parker is knocked to the floor, where she grabs one of Paxley’s dolls and throws it inside. The distraction allows Parker to hit the Hypnotique for the pin at 3:49.

Rating: C. This felt like another step in Paxley’s decline, though I’m not sure how far that is going to go. At the same time, it is nice to see Parker getting another win as she continues to look strong. What matters the most is that she is turning into a bigger star and could wind up being a player in the title picture sooner than later.

Post match Thea Hail runs in to chase Parker off.

Video on Jasper Troy.

Jasper Troy vs. Dante Chen

Troy powers him into the corner to start and tries a slam. Chen slips out but gets sent flying with a backdrop. A drop onto the top rope has Chen in more trouble and Troy hits a backbreaker. That seems to wake Chen up a bit though and he grabs a tornado DDT. Troy runs him over again though and hits a Boss Man Slam for the win at 3:39.

Rating: C+. And that is why Chen has a job. He’s out there to make someone like Troy look good and it worked well enough. Troy is already getting into things with Oba Femi so he needed a win like this to get him a nice in-ring start. Odds are he’ll be in for a bigger match next time, but at least he did well to start.

Post match Oba Femi pops up on the platform, saying that Troy’s five minutes of fame are over because he has the Ruler’s attention.

Charlie Dempsey mocks Myles Borne and Tavion Heights for their losses, saying it’s time for the team to regroup. Borne doesn’t want to take a step back and agrees to face Dempsey for his freedom from the team. We’ll make it a rounds match.

Here is Ethan Page to celebrate his title win but Je’Von Evans interrupts. Evans talks about their history together and now he is getting a title shot at Worlds Collide. Cue AAA’s Laredo Kid, who wants the title as well. That’s not all though, because here is Rey Fenix to be the other challenger in a four way match at Worlds Collide.

In her office, Ava announces that Sean Legacy gets a title shot against the winner.

Tatum Paxley freaks out over her loss but runs into Sol Ruca and Zaria. They’re here if Paxley needs someone to talk to but the Culling is shown watching behind them.

Women’s Title: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jacy Jayne

Jayne, with Fatal Influence, is challenging. Vaquer charges in and the brawl starts fast, with Jayne getting rolled up for an early two. The Devil’s Kiss is broken up and Jayne gets two off a suplex. Back up and Vaquer sends her into various buckles but here are Chik Tormenta and Dalys for a distraction. Lola Vice runs in to cut them off and Vaquer hits a 619 into a springboard missile dropkick.

We take a break and come back with Jayne hitting a running kick to the face for two. Frustration is setting in so Jayne hits a Sling Blade backbreaker. Vaquer fights up and it’s a double swinging faceplant for a double down. Back up and Jayne knocks her into the corner for a knee to the face. Jayne knees her in the face as well for two of her own but Vaquer grabs a dragon screw legwhip.

They head to the floor where Jayne is sent into the steps but Henley offers a distraction back inside. That’s fine with Vaquer, who rams them together and then dives onto both of them. Back in and the Devil’s Kiss connects but Henley gets in a cheap shot from around the post. Jayne’s discus forearm connects for the pin and the title at 13:02.

Rating: C+. Well. That happened. This feels like a way to move Vaquer up to the main roster really, really fast and that’s not a bad move. She had a quick run on the main roster and looked more than comfortable. Jayne winning something is quite the move for her and opens up the doors for a lot of potential challengers. This was quite the shock, but what matters here is Vaquer seems likely on the way to the main roster, where she belongs.

The ring announcer is so stunned that he has to be told to make the announcement.

Overall Rating: B-. That is quite the change of path forward after Battleground, as we have another TNA star getting a World Title shot, the LFG winner going after the NXT Champion, a shocking upset main event and a title change in the opener. You do not get that kind of change around here very often and dang I’m curious to see where it goes next.

Results
Ethan Page b. Ricky Saints – Twisted Grin
Mike Santana b. Tavion Heights – Spin The Block
Jaida Parker b. Tatum Paxley – Hypnotique
Jasper Troy b. Dante Chen – Boss Man Slam
Jacy Jayne b. Stephanie Vaquer – Discus forearm

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: May 20, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T., Corey Graves

It’s the go home show for Battleground and that means we’re in for the final push towards the show. The card is mostly set and now we get to see what is going to be added at the last minute. Some of these shows can be hit and miss and that makes me curious about what we’re going to see. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Je’Von Evans vs. Ashante Thee Adonis vs. Sean Legacy

Ricky Saints is on commentary. Adonis stomps away in the corner to start and we get an exchange of rollups for two each. Evans is sent outside for a dive from Adonis and Legacy is tossed as well. Back in and Evans’ dive is cut off so he busts out another one to drop both Legacy and Adonis as we take a break.

We come back with Adonis spinebustering Legacy onto Evans but Legacy blocks the Long Kiss Goodnight. Legacy missile dropkicks Adonis to the floor and hits a running Spanish Fly for two on Evans. Back up and Evans snaps off a super hurricanrana to Legacy but Adonis tries to steal the pin.

That’s broken up as well and all three of them need a breather. Adonis hits a superkick on Evans but Legacy breaks up the cover with a springboard 450. Evans cleans house again and frog splashes Adonis, with Legacy making another save. Cue Ethan Page to go after Saints though and Evans dives onto both of them. That leaves Adonis to miss a frog splash and Legacy grabs Shambles for the pin at 11:58.

Rating: B. This was the showcase for Legacy and it worked well for him. It’s fairly clear that he’s one of the brighter prospects in Evolve and it would not surprise me to see him wind up full time in NXT sooner than later. They had an entertaining match here and while I’m not sure Legacy is going to move to the top, this is a nice start for him on the next level.

Ava sends security to deal with Ethan Page. That brings her to Tyra Mae Steele and Jasper Troy, the winners of WWE LFG Season 1. They’ll be debuting in the next few weeks but Troy promises to make an impact tonight. Ava: “Ok.”

We look at Jordynne Grace training. She signed around the same time as Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer and they all want to be at the top. Grace has been in Mexico and Japan, plus dominating TNA. On Sunday at Battleground, she’ll prove she’s the best.

Lola Vice wishes Vaquer luck but runs into Fatal Influence. They argue a bit and Fallon Henley vs. Vice is set for tonight.

Trick Williams says people break their neck to see him while Joe Hendry breaks his neck to see the people. Williams raps about not losing to an average Joe and Booker T. seems impressed. I’m not a rap fan but this seemed to be decent.

Josh Briggs dedicates his match to Yoshiki Inamura.

Shawn Spears vs. Josh Briggs

The rest of the Culling is here with Spears. We’re joined in progress with Briggs running him over but Spears fires off some knees to the ribs. They go outside where Spears posts him before taking it back inside for a neckbreaker. A superkick is blocked though and Briggs hits a quick splash for two. Spears’ dive to the floor is pulled out of the air and Briggs drops him onto the announcers’ table. They go to get back inside but the Culling gets in a cheap shot, allowing Spears to get a small package for the pin at 5:30.

Rating: C. Am I supposed to be sad that Inamura is gone? I’m not sure that’s going to happen, but it could be interesting to see Briggs and Brooks Jensen join forces again in some way. It’s not like either of them have done anything important else in a long time so why not see what they can do. The match was nothing all that good anyway, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

Post match the beatdown is on but Hank & Tank run in for the save.

Kelani Jordan bickers with Zaria and Sol Ruca tonight, with Zaria saying she’ll take care of Jordan for Ruca later.

Thea Hail, with her eye bandaged, yells at Tatum Paxley about the attack last week. Paxley says Hail has no idea what it’s like to lose everyone, which Hail doesn’t accept. Jaida Parker then jumps Hail from behind but wants nothing to do with Paxley. That was kind of funny.

Uriah Connors/Kale Dixon vs. OTM

Andre Chase is here with Connors/Dixon. Price knocks Connors down to start and then faceplants Dixon as well, leaving Chase worried on the floor. Back in and Connors runs Price over, allowing Dixon to hit a quick DDT. Nima comes in though and gets knocked back, only to grab the assisted Alabama Slam to finish Connors fast at 3:10.

Rating: C. Just shy of a squash here, with OTM running over the new Chase U. That’s what it should have been, as Chase U has nothing going for them yet and have quite a long way to go. At the same time, OTM is a pair of powerhouses and it makes sense to have them smash through some people now that they’re back. If nothing else, they could be into the title scene sooner than later.

Here are Myles Borne and Oba Femi for their final showdown before the title match. Femi is surprised and impressed that Borne made it this far. He understands that Borne is fighting for people who believe in him and who are following their dreams. However, that dream was realized when Borne won the battle royal and it all ends when the bell rings at Battleground. Borne talks about how he has been treated differently for his entire career.

This is about making a statement and he hopes Femi underestimates him. Everyone has done that before, from the doctors and nurses to NXT coaches. He’s been overcoming battles all of his life and every ruler eventually falls. No he can’t hear well, but he’ll hear the 1-2-3 on Sunday when he wins the NXT Title. Borne leaves and here is Jasper Troy to jump Femi. Borne makes the save and holds up the title, eventually handing it back to Femi for the staredown. I don’t believe he has a chance of winning the title but man alive Borne is turning himself into one of the easiest to like stars NXT has seen in a good while.

Ricky Saints and Ethan Page argue in Ava’s office and Saints is willing to give him a title shot to get his hands on him. Ava says they don’t make matches….and then she makes the match they want for the title next week.

Tony D’Angelo talks about what it means when you get betrayed. He and Stacks grew up together and have known each other for years. They made the D’Angelo Family but now Stacks wants to run everything. Stacks doesn’t get what it takes to be in charge and doesn’t see everything. On Sunday, Stacks will see how things really work. Those personal touches are making it even better and that should be a good thing at Battleground.

Lola Vice vs. Fallon Henley

Jacy Jayne is here with Henley, who gets wrestled to the mat without much trouble to start. Vice takes her down again without much trouble as Jayne doesn’t seem impressed on the floor. Back up and Vice snaps off a hurricanrana to the floor but Henley gets in a shot of her own.

We take a break and come back with Vice striking her way out of trouble. That doesn’t last long as Henley is back with some sliding forearms but Vice kicks her down. Vice’s running hip attack in the corner gets two so Henley grabs a flying faceplant. Vice fights up again so Jayne offers a distraction, only for Henley to be sent into her. The spinning backfist gives Vice the pin at 11:30.

Rating: C+. Vice continues to be in a weird place, as she smashes through various stars but never seems to get to the next level. She doesn’t quite seem ready to move up to the title picture, but there isn’t much of a point in having her beat people like this. The issues between Fatal Influence continues and I’m not sure where that is going, but it doesn’t seem likely to go anywhere good.

Stephanie Vaquer has a sitdown interview where she talks about all of the work it took to get here. She was inspired by Rey Mysterio and now she knows that she had to do everything to accomplish her goals. Jordynne Grace conquers companies but Vaquer conquers countries.

Darkstate talks about how Dion Lennox started the team and they are all ready to take NXT down. They all bring something different, and now it is time to find out who is next.

We look at Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson (NBA stars) almost getting in a fight last year on Smackdown.

Kelani Jordan vs. Zaria

Sol Ruca is here with Zaria, who sends Jordan flying with a release German suplex to start. Jordan gets in a shot to the face and hits a high crossbody for two, followed by a choke to try and slow Zaria down. They go outside where Zaria sends her head first into the barricade as we take a break.

Back with Jordan escaping a belly to back suplex attempt and managing a knockdown for a double breather. The exchange of forearms goes to Zaria so Jordan gives her a running crossbody. A tornado DDT plants Zaria for two but Jordan misses a 450. Jordan tries another choke but gets flipped into a Cannonball into the corner (that was cool). Back up and Jordan is sent outside, where she goes after Ruca. This brings Ruca up onto the apron but Zaria is sent into her, allowing Jordan to grab the rollup for the pin at 10:32.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure why both women’s matches had the same finish but it’s not a great sign. That aside, Jordan winning to get the next shot at Ruca isn’t a bad way to go. She’s already a former champion and that could be quite the accomplishment if Ruca can beat her. At the same time you have Zaria….and she is certainly there. Unfortunately that’s about all there is to say about her at the moment and that isn’t promising.

Battleground rundown.

Here is Joe Hendry for a concert. After praising Trick Williams for trying in his first performance, Hendry sings about how he’ll be champion after Battleground. Williams is merely the World Champion of producing tears and is only a bad sidekick to Carmelo Hayes. This gives us a clip of Williams and Hayes in a haunted house back in the day, albeit with some Hendry heads superimposed.

Hendry sings about how Williams is Melo’s b****, which brings out Williams to interrupt. Williams calls him Average Joe and the fight is on, with the Trick Shot hitting the guitar. Hendry gives him the Standing Ovation (chokeslam) and sings about winning on Sunday to end the show. That’s pretty clearly the main event, which is a rather weird thing to see but it’s the right way to go.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was about getting us ready for Battleground but thankfully they did a nice job of getting some things ready for other stories down the line. That is something that has been missing from various go home shows and it’s nice to have them get things better. I’m mostly interested in Battleground and I’m interested in where things are going, so we’ll call this a good enough one.

Results
Sean Legacy b. Je’Von Evans and Ashante Thee Adonis – Shambles to Adonis
Shawn Spears b. Josh Briggs – Small package
OTM b. Uriah Connors/Kale Dixon – Assisted Alabama Slam to Connors
Lola vice b. Fallon Henley – Spinning backfist
Kelani Jordan b. Zaria – Rollup

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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NXT
Date: May 13, 2025
Location: Capitol Wrestling Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Booker T., Corey Graves, Vic Joseph

We’re less than two weeks away from Battleground and the big story is going to see Trick Williams challenging Joe Hendry for the TNA World Title. That means there is a good chance that Hendry will be around this week, along with some other things being set up for the show. We could be in for some big happenings so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Here is the No Quarter Catch Crew, with new #1 contender Myles Borne. He talks about how he was probably not the big favorite for last week’s battle royal and let’s get around this already: yes he has a disability because he is partially deaf. It affects his hearing and his ability to speak, but that’s not what he wants to be known as. He wants to be known as the one who overcomes the odds and while he can’t hear very well, at Battleground, he’ll hear himself called the new NXT Champion.

Cue Ethan Page, who is tired of this sentimental stuff. Borne won the title shot on a fluke so he can’t beat Oba Femi. Fans: “YOU CAN’T EITHER!” Page wants the title shot on the line tonight and Charlie Dempsey thinks it’s a good idea. Ava comes out to say it’s on, but Dempsey’s match is on right now. Page is right in that Borne came out of nowhere, but this did a good job of making him feel a lot more personable. That’s a nice thing to see and it worked well here.

Oba Femi vs. Charlie Dempsey

Non-title. Femi wastes no time in powering him out to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Dempsey getting a few shots to the head and grabbing a headscissors takeover. Dempsey starts in on the arm but Femi slams his way out of an armbar. A short armscissors is countered with a dead lift and Femi starts firing off the uppercuts. The Fall From Grace finishes Dempsey at 8:13.

Rating: B-. Dempsey going after the arm and trying to do the technical stuff worked well enough, but there was only so much you can do to stop a monster like Femi. This was more about Femi overcoming a bit of adversity and winning in the end, which is what he does well. Nice opener, and a bit better than I was expecting.

Earlier today, Thea Hail and Karmen Petrovic ran into Tatum Paxley, who was losing her mind and screaming about her friends leaving her (as Gigi Dolin was released).

Ricky Saints comes up to a warming up Ethan Page and mocks him for trying to ruin everyone’s moments. Page isn’t impressed and says Saints can go back to playing second fiddle to him. Saints: “Good luck with that.”

Wes Lee vs. Tony D’Angelo

Lee has officially dubbed his team with Tyriek Igwe and Tyson DuPont as “High Rise”. Yeah that’s not good. Lee’s headlock doesn’t get him very far so he fires off some kicks to the legs. That earns him some uppercuts from D’Angelo but DuPont grabs the foot. That offers a grand total of no impact but D’Angelo sends Lee outside, with the other two catching him. D’Angelo dives onto the three of them and we take a break.

Back with Lee yelling a lot and promising to be the next Don. That brings D’Angelo up with some headbutts to the floor and an overhead belly to belly connects back inside. The powerslam gives D’Angelo two but he gets pulled down into a hurricanrana. The Cardiac Kick is speared down…but Stacks is on the Titantron. Stacks shows up at Riz’s safe house and that’s enough of a distraction for the Cardiac Kick to finish D’Angelo at 10:15.

Rating: C+. Odds are that is setting up the Stacks vs. D’Angelo showdown at Battleground and Lee winning here is a nice moment for him. Giving the stable a new name isn’t going to make it much better, but the winning could help. Not exactly a great match, but it set up the bigger match down the line.

OTM is coming back.

Here is Stephanie Vaquer for a chat. She saw Jordynne Grace becoming the new #1 contender to the Women’s Title and now it’s time for them to fight at Battleground. Cue Fatal Influence to interrupt, with Jacy Jayne bringing up Fallon Henley losing the Women’s North American Title.

Henley doesn’t like that but here is Grace to interrupt. Grace is here to protect her investment, which isn’t something Vaquer likes. Jayne mocks Grace’s lack of success, which Vaquer says will continue at Battleground. Grace is going to make sure Vaquer makes it to Battleground. Given that it’s another show and a half, that’s not much of a guarantee.

Myles Borne says he has this, mainly due to Charlie Dempsey being banged up.

The Undertaker and Bubba Ray Dudley talk to the finalists of the women’s side of WWE LFG. Izzi Dame, Nikkita Lyons, Lola Vice and Lash Legend all come in to threaten anyone who comes for this division. Undertaker isn’t intimidated. Dang I can’t wait for LFG to be over so they can stop talking about it.

The D’Angelo Family races to the safe house.

Myles Borne vs. Ethan Page

For the Battleground title shot. Borne wrestles him into a front facelock to start and then armdrags him into an armbar. That’s broken up and Borne reverses Page’s suplex attempt into a successful version. Page elbow shim in the face and grabs a chinlock, which is broken up rather quickly as well. A clothesline puts Page out on the floor and we take a break.

Back with Page hitting a superplex but not being able to get a Boston crab. Borne snaps off an overhead belly to belly suplex and an Angle Slam gets two. Page blocks a dropkick for two more but it’s too early for the Ego’s Edge. Twisted Grin is countered as well and Borne hits a dropkick into a jackknife rollup for the pin at 11:09.

Rating: B-. The point of this match was to make Borne look like a more serious challenger to Oba Femi and it went just fine. At the end of the day, NXT has two shows to have Borne go from basically a nobody to challenging for the NXT Title. He got a clean win over a former NXT Champion and that’s good, but you can only get him so far that fast. Borne did look good here though and that’s all he could do.

Sean Legacy is upset about losing last week in the battle royal and wants Je’Von Evans.

Evans is interested but Ashante Thee Adonis comes up to mock the idea. Ricky Saints likes the idea too, and says maybe the winner can get a title shot after Battleground.

Tony D’Angelo arrives at the safe house and gets jumped by Stacks, who mocks everything he’s doing. The challenge is issued for Battleground.

Thea Hail vs. Tatum Paxley

Hail punches her down to start and wants to know what she did to Paxley. Some armdrags take Paxley down but she faceplants Hail down. Hail reverses a ram into the buckle as Jaida Parker is watching backstage. An enziguri connects with Hail, who is right back with a rollup for two. Paxley’s running flipping Fameasser gets two but Hail clotheslines her way out of trouble. The Kimura sends Paxley straight to the rope so Hail grabs it again. That sends Paxley to Hail’s eye, which is actually a DQ at 4:35.

Rating: C+. This was pretty much all about the ending and it only worked so well. At the end of the day, this feels like a total shift for Paxley as her short lived team with Gigi Dolin is over. It continues to astound me that the team was thrown together and then left to die without any kind of resolution, even a short term one, as it creates this kind of an issue. Paxley being insane could be a good way to go, but we’ll have to see where it goes from here.

Post match Paxley goes for the eye again and has to be held back.

Kelani Jordan comes in to yell at Sol Ruca and Zaria for taking her out last week. Jordan wants one more shot at Zaria and when she wins, she gets a title shot. Ruca accepts, with Zaria not being happy.

We get the Joe Hendry/Trick Williams contract signing. Ava talks about the prestige of the title and Williams promises to take the title. Hendry knows Williams knows what it means to break out, but now Williams is just complaining about everything. Hendry talks about how he’s making TNA bigger than ever before but Williams says everyone has his fifteen minutes of fame. Well except for Hollywood Trick that is.

Williams signs and Hendry talks about how this is Williams’ last chance, because he has no path back to the NXT Title. After Battleground, the TNA Title is gone too. Hendry signs and staring ensues. There wasn’t much new here, but both of them sold it well. I’m just not sure I can imagine Hendry actually beating him.

Hank And Tank come in to see Josh Briggs, who is a little blue. Briggs is sad to lose his friend and his partner but here is Shawn Spears to mock him for his losses. Briggs doesn’t want to hear this and implies he wants a match with Spears.

The new Chase U gets their first match set for next week against….OTM. Andre Chase: “GUYS WHAT THE F***?”

Jordynne Grace/Stephanie Vaquer vs. Fatal Influence

Grace backdrops and clotheslines Henley to start but Vaquer tags herself in. A springboard high crossbody hits Henley but it’s back to Jayne for a snap suplex. Vaquer pulls her into a European Clutch for two, only for Henley to get in a cheap shot from the apron. Jayne’s superkick sets up a Codebreaker and Vaquer is in trouble. Grace gets pulled off the apron and Fatal Influence puts both of them down as we take a break.

Back with Vaquer fighting out of the corner but Jayne plants her back down for two. Jayne hits her with a pump kick but Jayne gets in a shot of her own and brings Grace back in. Grace cleans house for two and everything breaks down with Fatal Influence actually getting the better of things. Grace takes a shot for Vaquer though, only to fight out of a double team. The Juggernaut Driver finishes Jayne at 10:54.

Rating: B-. So we have a team who is starting to work well together for the sake of their upcoming match, while Fatal Influence’s issues continue. I’m not sure how a split would go between them as there isn’t much of a reason to cheer for them, but we seem to be heading in that direction. The Grace/Vaquer story isn’t exactly original, but it should go well enough to get them to Battleground.

Battleground rundown.

Grace holds up Vaquer’s arm.

Ethan Page has attacked Ricky Saints.

Vaquer and Grace look at each other some more to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This show was mostly the “get Battleground ready really fast” and it worked out fairly well. The problem here is that they only had so much time to make it work and they did it well enough here. There is still a lot to do next week, but this was a good way to get us closer.

Results
Oba Femi b. Charlie Dempsey – Fall From Grace
Wes Lee b. Tony D’Angelo – Cardiac Kick
Myles Borne b. Ethan Page – Dropkick
Thea Hail b. Tatum Paxley via DQ when Paxley poked the eye
Jordynne Grace/Stephanie Vaquer b. Fatal Influence – Juggernaut Driver to Jayne

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6